YLC - IAS /PCS

Each Veda has 4 parts :

Samhitas - Most ancient part of Vedas
Contains mantras , prayers and hymns to gods.

Brahmanas - Prose interpretations of the samhita chapters .Gives details and explanations of sacrificial rituals and their outcome.

Aranyakas - Texts on forest life. It interprets sacrificial rituals in a symbolic and philosophical way.

Upanishads - 108 Upanishads, 13 of which are significant.They contain a great variety of philosophical ideas about sacrifice , the body and the universe.They are most closely associated with concepts of Atman and Brahman.

VEDIC PERIOD

A) Rigveda - oldest Veda
divided into 10 books (known as mandals )
-includes vishvamitra's famous Gayatri mantra and the purusha sukta prayer (the story of primal man)
-Rigvedic priest is known as Hotri.

B) Yajurveda- Essentially a manual for the Adhvaryu priest who was responsible for almost all ritualistic tasks in a sacrifice.
- Principally in prose form.
- Has been divided into two sections: the earlier black and the more recent white.

C) Samaveda - Shortest of all the four Vedas
- It is a collection of Rigvedic verses organised in the form of poetry to facilitate singing.
-Specially intended for Udagatar priest

D) Atharvaveda - Compilation of magical spells and charms that are used to ward of evil spirits and diseases.
- Latest and contains hymns ( some from the Rig veda)

Ancient India Facts

In Uttar Pradesh, significant ancient sites include the Mesolithic locations of Mahadaha and Sarai Nahar Rai in Pratapgarh district, and the Neolithic sites of Koldihwa, Maghara, and Chopani Mando.